Bifold door hardware

ABSTRACT

Bifold door hardware includes a socket member mounted on an overhead support structure for receiving an upstanding pivot pin on the top edge of the door, and a jamb bracket assembly mounted below the bottom edge of the door for receiving and supporting a depending pivot pin on the bottom edge of the door. The socket member includes a mounting base, a resilient clip extending from one side of the base and having in its distal end a pin-receiving socket hole, and a bumper tab extending from the opposite side of the base. The jamb bracket assembly includes a bracket adapted to be fastened to the support structure, a housing adjustably connected to the bracket for adjusting the horizontal position of the door relative to the support structure, and a helical cam rotatably mounted in the housing below a pivot-pin receiving hole in the top wall thereof for adjusting the vertical position of the door.

United States Patent 3,662,808 1 May 16, 1972 Edens [54] BIFOLD DOOR HARDWARE [72] lnventor: James A. Edeus, Rock Falls, lll. [73] Assignee: National Manufacturing Co., Sterling, Ill. [22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 15,360

[52] U.S. Cl. ..160/206, 16/129, 160/1 18 [51] Int. Cl ..E05d 15/26 [58] Field ofSearch.... ..160/206, 199, 118; 16/129, 16/131, 132,151

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,054,447 9/1962 Brydolf 160/206 1,655,485 l/1928 Wheelock ..16/132 X 3,096,539 7/1963 Dickinson et al. .160/206 X 1,772,194 8/1930 Schoemer ..16/132 2,901,036 8/1959 Greig ..160/206 3,187,800 6/1965 Kirby.. ..160/206 3,251,090 5/1966 Fergison ..160/206 X Bejarano ..l6/l32 X Anderson et al ..160/206 5 7] ABSTRACT Bifold door hardware includes a socket member mounted on an overhead support structure for receiving an upstanding pivot pin on the top edge of the door, and a jamb bracket assembly mounted below the bottom edge of the door for receiving and supporting a depending pivot pin on the bottom edge of the door. The socket member includes a mounting base, a resilient clip extending from one side of the base and having in its distal end a pin-receiving socket hole, and a bumper tab extending from the opposite side of the base. The jamb bracket assembly includes a bracket adapted to be fastened to the sup port structure, a housing adjustably connected to the bracket for adjusting the horizontal position of the door relative to the support structure, and a helical cam rotatably mounted in the housing below a pivot-pin receiving hole in the top wall thereof for adjusting the vertical position of the door.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEnmw Ian 3.662.808

INVENTOR.

JAMES A. EDEUS BIFOLD DOOR HARDWARE The present invention relates to hardware for bifold doors, and it more particularly relates to bifold door hardware which enables the position of the door to be adjusted vertically and horizontally relative to its support structure.

Bifold doors are usually pivotally mounted with brackets so that the door panels may be folded from their closed aligned co-planar relation into an open position in which the door panels are disposed in folded adjoining relation. The prior art hardware included spring-loaded pivot pins mounted in a recess or well in the top edge of the doors, but it was found to be not entirely satisfactory for installation and adjustment purposes. Also, the doors could be accidentally disengaged from the support structure when bumped or accidentally pushed. Many of the prior art bifold door assemblies had an excessive gap between the top edges of the door panels and the overhead support structure. In this regard, the prior art springloaded top pivot pin made the gap or space necessary for insertion of a screwdriver or similar tool to press the pin down into its retracted position when installing or removing the door. Also, many of the prior art bifold doors were difficult to plumb or adjust vertically and horizontally the position of the door relative to the support structure. Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide bifold door hardware which does not possess the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art hardware and which can readily adjust the horizontal and vertical position of the door. Also, it would be highly desirable to have such bifold door hardware which can permit the door to be removed from its support structure without losing its vertical and horizontal alignment.

Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide new and improved folding door hardware.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new andimproved bifold door hardware which is adapted to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of the door and which does not require holes in either the top or the bottom edge of the door.

Briefly, the above and further objects of the invention are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing bifold door hardware which includes a socket member for receiving an upstanding pivot pin on the top edge of the door, and a jamb bracket assembly which receives a depending pivot pin on the bottom edge of the door and which has a rotatablymounted helical cam for adjusting the vertical position of the door. The socket member includes a base which is adapted to be mounted to the overhead support structure, a resilient clip extending from one side of the base and having in its distal end a pin-receiving socket hole to permit the door panel pin to be merely snapped into engagement with the socket during mounting the door, and a tab extending from the opposite side of the base which serves as a bumper for the adjacent door panel. The jamb bracket assembly includes an L-shaped bracket which is adapted to be fastened to the support structure, and a housing having a pin-receiving hole in the top wall thereof under which the rotatably-mounted helical cam is mounted. The housing is adjustably connected to the bracket for adjusting the horizontal position of the door. In order to adjust the vertical position of the door, the helical cam is manually rotated by inserting a small diameter rod or pin into one of a series of slots in the base of the cam to rotate it in the housing to raise the depending pivot pin and thus the door, whereby the doorcan be moved to an adjusted position and the resilient clip of the socket member moves to accommodate the movement of the door. Thus, only a simple rod is needed to adjust the position of the door, and hence there is no need for special tools, such as wrenches.

These and further objects of the present invention will be understood more fully and completely from the following detailed description when considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary-elevational view in front elevation of a bifold door assembly including a pair of hinged door panels and a portion of the adjacent panel of a second pair of hinged door panels with the panels arranged in closed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the top socket member, with portions thereof being broken away for illustration purposes, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the socket member of FIG. 2;

F IG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the pivot pin plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the jamb bracket assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the cam member of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the L-shaped bracket of the jamb bracket assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional back end view of the jamb bracket assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the housing and cam member of the jamb bracket assembly of FIG. 5 without the L-shaped bracket; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged bottom view of the jamb bracket assembly of FIG. 5 with the L-shaped bracket.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a bifold door hardware which incorporates the principles of the present invention and which is disclosed for a folding door assembly 10 comprising two or four folding door panel units or multiples thereof. A unit comprises panels 12 and 14 hingedly connected at 16 upon a vertical axis and a portion of the inner panel 14 of an adjoining unit, the end panel 12 being pivotally mounted at its upper inner edge by a socket member 18 enclosed in a downwardly opening channel or track 20, and at its lower edge pivotally mounted on a jamb bracket assembly 22 affixed both to the adjacent vertical jamb 24 defining one end of the door opening and the floor 26 defining one side of the door opening.

The inner door panel 14 has affixed to its upper edge a guide assembly 28 comprising a plate 31 affixed to the upper edge of the door by screws 33 and having an upstanding guide member 35 which is pivotally mounted on the base 31 and which has an enlarged head portion 37 slidably supported between the edges of a pair of spaced flanges 39 of the track 20 for longitudinal movement in the track.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the socket member 18 is composed of plastic material or other suitable material, and comprises a spring clip 41 which has a vertical hole 43 extending through a block 45 at the rear end of the clip 41 for receiving a mounting screw 47 (FIG. 1) which is driven into the header 48 forming a part of the support structure, and a hole 49 at its opposite end which serves as a bearing or socket for receiving an upstanding pivot pin 50 of a pivot pin plate 52, which is mounted on the top edge of the end door panel 12 by means of screws 54 (FIG. 1). An enlarged cut-out portion 44 in line with the hole 43 in the block 45 permits greater access to the screw 47 by a screwdriver (not shown) during mounting of the socket member 18. A curved retainer or guide 56 is integrally formed at the distal end portion of the underside of the clip 41 and has a curved surface 58 which is aligned circumferentially with the outer half of the circumference of the hole 49 to help guide the pivot pin 50 into the hole 49. The clip 41 slopes downwardly from the block portion 45 to the socket 49 so that the socket 49 is normally disposed at a lower elevation than the block 45, whereby the clip 41 and its socket 49 are movable in the plane of the door panels to facilitate mounting of the door panel unit and to facilitate the vertical and horizontal adjustment of the position of the door. Thus, in order to mount the door panels, the upstanding pivot pin 50 is moved into engagement with the underside of the clip 41, and the pin 50 is then slid along the underside of the clip 41 until the pin engages the curved surface 58 of the retainer 56 and then slips into the socket hole 49. For the purpose of removing the door, a screwdriver or similar tool is pushed against the underside of the clip 41 to move it up and away from the pin 50. Thus, the top edges of the door panels are mounted in relatively close proximity to the track 20, and hence there is no unsightly gap between the door panels and the support structure.

The block 45 is generally cube shaped and is approximately one-half of the width of the clip 41 and is aligned with the rear corner portion of the clip 41. In order to conceal the block 45 from view, a depending tab 61, which is the same width as the block 45, extends from the clip 41 opposite the block 45. A tab 63 extends downwardly at an acute angle relative to the block 45 from the top surface thereof to serve as a bumper so that when the guide member 37 of the door panel 14 moves longitudinally toward the socket member 18 when the door is moved to an open position, the guide member 37 engages the resilient tab 63.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the jamb bracket assembly 22 comprises a housing 65 having a hollow cylindrical, opened-bottom portion 67 having a socket hole 69 in its top wall 71 for receiving the depending pin 50 ofa plate 52 mounted on the bottom edge of the door panel 12 in alignment with the plate 52 on the top edge of the door panel 12, it being understood that the top and bottom plates 52 are identical. Extending from one side of the cylindrical portion 67 is a pair of spaced-apart resilient L-shaped arms or flanges 73 and 74 which grip therebetween the horizontal flange 75 of an L- shaped flange 77 which has a vertical flange 79 fastened to the vertical jamb 24 by screws 80 extending through holes 82 in the flange 79 and into the jamb 24. An elongated slot in the top wall 71 and a portion of its side wall 83 forms an extension of the space between the arms 73 and 74 to provide greater resiliency for the arms 73 and 74. The horizontal flange 75 has an intermediate vertical portion 84 connecting a horizontal web portion 86, which underlies the arms 73 and 74, and a horizontal distal end flange portion 88, which underlies and is spaced from the opened-bottom of the cylindrical portion 67. A hole 89 in the horizontal flange 88 receives a mounting screw 90 (FIG. 1) for securing the L-shaped bracket 77 to the floor 26, and is counter-sunk to permit the flat-head screw 90 to be positioned flush with the flange 88. A pair of inwardly facing grooves or slots 91 and 93 (FIGS. 9 and receive the web portion 86 which is slid in place in the grooves 91 so that the distal end portion 88 underlies the cylindrical portion 67. A self-threading screw 95 extends through aligned holes in a pair of blocks 97 and 99 which are integrally connected to the inside end portions of the respective arms 73 and 74 to clamp the arms to the web 86. In order to horizontally adjust the position of the door panels relative to the vertical jamb 24, the housing 65 is slid relative to the L-shaped bracket 77 to an adjusted position, the clip 41 of the socket member 18 being movable to accommodate the horizontal movement of the door panels, and the screw 95 is then threaded into the arms 73 and 74. Pairs of points 101 and 103 (FIG. 7) extend from the opposite side edges of the web 86, so that the points can be imbedded into and thus fixed to the arms 73 and 74 when the screw 95 is threaded in place.

In order to raise and lower the door panels to adjust their vertical position relative to their support structure, a cylindrical cam member 105 is rotatably mounted on the horizontal flange portion 88 of the L-shaped bracket 77 within the hollow cylindrical portion 67 of the housing 65 and has a helical cam surface 107 disposed beneath the pivot pin socket hole 69 to support the depending pivot pin 50. A series of equally spaced notches or slots 109 are provided in the bottom edge of the cam member 105 and are located in the space defined by a semi-circular cut-out 110 of the cylindrical portion 67 and the upper surface of the flange 88 for receiving a thin rod (not shown) or the like to rotate the cam member 105 relative to its housing 65 to raise or lower the depending pin 50 and thus the door panels thereby to adjust the vertical position of the door. Thus, no special tools, such as wrenches, are required to adjust or plumb the door. A small post or stud 1 12 extends from the bottom side of the cam member 105 in line with its vertical axis and is integrally connected to the cam member 105 for rotatably supporting it. The stud 112 fits in an elongated slot 114 in the horizontal distal end portion 88 of the L-shaped bracket 77 to serve as a bearing for the stud 1 12 which moves in the slot 114 relative to the bracket 77 during the horizontal adjustment of the door. An upstanding ridge 116 on the uppermost portion of the cam member extends radially from its central axis to its outer edge and bears against the inside of the top wall 71 of the cylindrical portion 67 of the housing 65 to provide a stop member to limit the extent of the rotational movement of the cam member 105, whereby when the cam member 105 is rotated from its position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 of the drawings through almost 360' to raise the door panels to the greatest extent possible with the jamb bracket assembly 22, the ridge 116 engages the depending pivot pin 50 extending through the hole 69 in engagement with the cam surface 107 to prevent further movement of the cam member 105 so that the pin 50 remains seated in the housing 65 against the cam surface 107.

In view of the foregoing description, it should now be apparent that there is provided in accordance with the present invention bifold door hardware which enables the position of the door panels to be manually adjusted in both the horizontal and vertical directions relative to the support structure for the door panels. The hardware of the present invention includes a spring clip which accommodates both vertical and horizontal movements of the door during an adjustment operation, and which enables the door panels to be mounted in relatively close proximity to the overhead track thereby to avoid unsightly gaps. Also, there is provided a jamb bracket assembly which includes a housing adjustably connected to an L-shaped bracket to facilitate the horizontal adjustment of the position of the door panels, and a helical cam member rotatably mounted in the housing directly below a socket hole in the top wall of the housing for supporting a depending pivot pin so that when the cam member is rotated, the vertical position of the door panels are adjusted. Should the door panels be removed from their support structure, these adjustments to the position of the door panels are retained.

While the present invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Bifold door hardware for folding door panels connected to a support structure including an overhead track for slidably supporting a glide member attached to the top edge of one of said panels comprising:

a top plate adapted to be mounted on the top edge of another one of said door panels, said plate having an upstanding pivot pin,

a socket member adapted to be mounted on said support structure, said member having a spring-biased socket for receiving said pivot pin, said socket being movable in the plane of the door panels,

a bottom plate adapted to be mounted on the bottom edge of said another one of said door panels, said bottom plate having a depending pivot pin adapted to be disposed in alignment with said top plate, and

a jamb bracket assembly having a rotatably-mounted cam member and adapted to be disposed below said depending pivot pin for receiving said depending pivot pin, said cam member having a helical cam surface on which said depending pivot pin is supported, whereby when said cam member is manually rotated, the vertical position of said door panels can be adjusted relative to the support structure.

2. Bifold door hardware according to claim I, wherein said jamb bracket assembly further includes an L-shaped bracket having first and second flanges, a housing for said cam member having a pair of oppositely disposed arms for receiving one of said flanges of said L-shaped bracket therebetween, and clamping means for clamping said arms together with a portion of said one flange therebetween, whereby said housing town-v can be moved relative to said L-shaped bracket and then clamped in place to adjust the horizontal position of the door panels relative to the support structure,

3, Bifold door hardware according to claim 2, wherein said cam member includes a post depending from its underside, said one flange of said L-shaped bracket including a slot for receiving said post, said cam member further including an upstanding ridge extending radially on the upper surface from its central axis to its outer edge and bearing against the inside of the top wall of the cylindrical housing for providing a stop member to limit the rotational movement of the cam member.

4. Bifold door hardware according to claim 3, wherein said arms of said housing include a pair of inwardly facing grooves for receiving said one of said flanges of said L-shaped bracket, and a pair of blocks at the distal ends of the respective arms, said clamping means comprising a self-threading screw threaded into said blocks.

5. Bifold door hardware according to claim 1, wherein said socket member includes a mounting block adapted to be mounted to a support structure, and a resilient arrn having a pin-receiving socket hole in its distal end and extending downwardly at an angle from said block.

6. Bifold door hardware according to claim 5, wherein said socket member is an integral plastic part and further includes a downwardly depending resilient tab extending at an angle toward the adjacent door panel frorn said block to serve as a bumper, and still further includes a guide partially surrounding said socket hole for guiding said upstanding pivot pin into said hole.

7. Bifold door hardware according to claim 1, wherein said top and bottom pivot pins are identical.

8. Bifold door hardware for folding door panels connected to a support structure including an overhead track for slidably supporting a glide member attached to the top edge of one of said panels comprising:

an upstanding pivot pin adapted to be mounted on the top edge of another one of said door panels,

a socket member having a resilient spring arm movable in the plane of the door, said arm having a hole in its distal end for receiving said pivot pin, and having at its opposite end a mounting block adapted to be mounted to said overhead structure,

a depending pivot pin adapted to be mounted on the bottom edge of the other door panel in alignment with the upstanding pivot pin, and

a jamb bracket assembly adapted to receive the depending pivot pin and to raise or lower said depending pivot pin, whereby the vertical position of said door panels can be adjusted relative to said support structure and said clip accommodates the movement of said door panel.

9. Bifold door hardware according to claim 8, wherein said socket member further includes a downwardly depending resilient tab extending at an angle from said block toward an adjacent door panel to serve as a bumper. 

1. Bifold door hardware for folding door panels connected to a support structure including an overhead track for slidably supporting a glide member attached to the top edge of one of said panels comprising: a top plate adapted to be mounted on the top edge of another one of said door panels, said plate having an upstanding pivot pin, a socket member adapted to be mounted on said support structure, said member having a spring-biased socket for receiving said pivot pin, said socket being movable in the plane of the door panels, a bottom plate adapted to be mounted on the bottom edge of said another one of said door panels, said bottom plate having a depending pivot pin adapted to be disposed in alignment with said top plate, and a jamb bracket assembly having a rotatably-mounted cam member and adapted to be disposed below said depending pivot pin for receiving said depending pivot pin, said cam member having a helical cam surface on which said depending pivot pin is supported, whereby when said cam member is manually rotated, the vertical position of said door panels can be adjusted relative to the support structure.
 2. Bifold door hardware according to claim l, wherein said jamb bracket assembly further includes an L-shaped bracket having first and second flanges, a housing for said cam member having a pair of oppositely disposed arms for receiving one of said flanges of said L-shaped bracket therebetween, and clamping means for clamping said arms together with a portion of said one flange therebetween, whereby said housing can be moved relative to said L-shaped bracket and then clamped in place to adjust the horizontal position of the door panels relative to the support structure.
 3. Bifold door hardware according to claim 2, wherein said cam member includes a post depending from its underside, said one flange of said L-shaped bracket including a slot for receiving said post, said cam member further including an upstanding ridge extending radially on the upper surface from its central axis to its outer edge and bearing against the inside of the top wall of the cylindrical housing for providing a stop member to limit the rotational movement of the cam member.
 4. Bifold door hardware according to claim 3, wherein said arms of said housing include a pair of inwardly facing grooves for receiving said one of said flanges of said L-shaped bracket, and a pair of blocks at the distal ends of the respective arms, said clamping means comprising a self-threading screw threaded into said blocks.
 5. Bifold door hardware according to claim 1, wherein said socket member includes a mounting block adapted to be mounted to a support structure, and a resilient arm having a pin-receiving socket hole in its distal end and extending downwardly at an angle from said block.
 6. Bifold door hardware according to claim 5, wherein said socket member is an integral plastic part and further includes a downwardly depending resilient tab extending at an angle toward the adjacent door panel from said block to serve as a bumper, and still further includes a guide partially surrounding said socket hole for guiding said upstanding pivot pin into said hole.
 7. Bifold door hardware according to claim 1, wherein said top and bottom pivot pins are identical.
 8. Bifold door hardware for folding door panels connected to a support structure including an overhead track for slidably supporting a glide member attached to the top edge of one of said panels comprising: an upstanding pivot pin adapted to be mounted on the top edge of another one of said door panels, a socket member having a resilient spring arm movable in the plane of the door, said arm having a hole in its distal end for receiving said pivot pin, and having at its opposite end a mounting block adapted to be mounted to said overhead structure, a depending pivot pin adapted to be mounted on the bottom edge of the other door panel in alignment with the upstanding pivot pin, and a jamb bracket assembly adapted to receive the depending pivot pin and to raise or lower said depending pivot pin, whereby the vertical position of said door panels can be adjusted relative to said support structure and said clip accommodates the movement of said door panel.
 9. Bifold door hardware according to claim 8, wherein said socket member further includes a downwardly depending resilient tab extending at an angle from said block toward an adjacent door panel to serve as a bumper. 